This allows the operator to easily obtain unique visualizations, that may be difficult or impossible to achieve

using conventional 2DE (e.g. en-face views of the tricuspid valve or cardiac defects). Acquisition of volumetric images generates the technical problem of rendering the depth perception on a flat, 2D monitor. 3D images can be visualized using three display modalities: volume rendering, surface rendering and tomographic slices (Fig. 3). In volume rendering modality, various color maps are applied to convey the depth perception to the observer. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Generally, lighter shades (e.g. bronze, Fig. 4) are used for structures closer to the observer, while darker shades (e.g. blue, Fig. 4) are used for deeper structures. Surface rendering modality displays the 3D surface of cardiac structures, identified either by manual tracing or by using automated border detection algorithms on multiple 2D cross-sectional images of the structure/cavity of interest (Fig. 3 and ​and5B).5B). This stereoscopic approach Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical is useful for the assessment of shape and for a better appreciation of geometry and dynamic function Selleckchem Akt inhibitor during the cardiac cycle. Finally, the pyramidal data set can be automatically

sliced in several tomographic views simultaneously displayed (Fig. 3). Cut planes can be orthogonal, parallel or free (any given plane orientation), Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical selected as desired by the echocardiographer for obtaining optimized cross-sections of the heart in order

to answer Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical specific clinical questions and to perform accurate and reproducible measurements (Fig. 6). Fig. 3 From the same pyramidal three-dimensional data set, the left ventricle can be analyzed using different display modalities: volume rendering, to visualize morphology and spatial relationships among adjacent structures; surface-rendering, for quantitative … Fig. 4 Normal mitral valve visualized en-face by transthoracic three-dimensional Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical echocardiography: A: Left ventricular perspective. B: Left atrial perspective or “surgical view”. RV: right ventricle, AML: acute myleogenous leukemia, PML: promyelocytic leukemia, … Fig. 5 Degenerative mitral valve disease: Parvulin A: Apical long-axis view showing a flail of posterior mitral leaflet. B: Volume rendering of the showing the location and extent of the prolapsing segment. C and D: Surface rendering of the valve leaflets, annulus and … Fig. 6 Multi-slice display of the left ventricle in a patient with antero-septal myocardial infarction. The three panels on the left show three apical views obtained by rotational slicing of the pyramidal data set. The nine panels on the right show nine short-axis … Clinical Applications Left ventricular quantification Noninvasive assessment of left ventricular (LV) geometry and function is critically important for clinical decision making and represents the most frequent indication for an echocardiographic study.